Machine for producing bottle-sealing caps.



Patented Apr, 15, I902.

A. JONES. MACHINE r-on PRODUCING some SEALING CAPS.

7 Sheets-Sheet I.

(Application (No Iode'l.)

' INVEN'TDH.

No. 697,489. v Patented Apr. l5, I902.

A. JONES.

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BOTTLE SEALING CAPS.

(Application filed May 31. 1898.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

23 2 MIIIIHIIIHIII- 3 /O, D A" =1 E} L HIIIWHQIQ E1 m -"cg I mun ig isEd 1 z I is t i t H 3 FE" 3' INVENT DR- No. 697,489. Patented Apr. 15,I902.

. A. JONES. v

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BOTTLE SEALING CAPS.

{Application filed May 31, 1898.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheets$heet 3.

Fig. 3.

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No.69L489.

Patented Apr. l5, I902.

A.JONES. MAGHI NE FOR PRODUCING BOTTLE SEALING CAPS.

(Application filed May 81 1898.)

NTEIEL- 7 Sheeis$heet 4.

T ORRIS PETERS co PHOTO-LITH5., wasmnm'om u. c.

No. 697,489. Patented Apr. [5, I902.

A. JONES. MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BOTTLE SEALING CAPS.

(Application filed May 31, 1898.} (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

7 Patented Apr. [5, I902. A. JONES. MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BOTTLE SEALINGCAPS.

(Application filed May 31, 1898.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

lNVE NT CIR:

WITNESSEE No. 697,489. Patented Apr. 15, 1902. A. JONES. MACHlflE FORPRODUCING BOTTLE SEAUNG CAPS.

' (Application filed May 31, [1898.)

7 SheetE-Shet 7.

[No Model.)

QWITNEEEEE- INVENTOR- aqwww THE Rpm: arms co PHOT UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

ALBERT JONES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS KALLING, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING BOTTLE-SEALING CAPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,489, dated April 15, 1 902. Application filed May 31,1898. Serial No. 682,114. (No model.)

T all wh m i may w wflrn: verse of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exterior frontBe it known that I, ALBERT JONES, of the view of the machine. Fig. 4. isa top of plan cityof Baltimore and State ofMaryland, have view. Fig. 5is an enlarged partially-sec-. invented certain Improvements in Machinestional view of certain parts of the mechan- 5 for ProducingBottle-Sealing Gaps, of which ism whereby circular blanks are punchedthe following is a specification. from a sheet-metal strip and drawninto un- This invention relates to a machine for profinishedsealing-caps. Fig. 6 is an underside ducing a bottle-sealing cap ofsubstantially view of the punch, the upper die, and its imthe sameconstruction as that shown and demediate attachments, shown in Fig. 5.Fig.

10 scribedin Letters Patent No. 561,792, granted 7 is an enlargedpartially-sectional view of on the 9th day of June, 1896, to LewisKalling, the principal parts of the mechanism for into which referenceshould be made. By refserting rubber gaskets intothe unfinished erenceto the said Letters Patent it will be sealing-caps. Fig. 8 is a sectionof Fig. 7, seen that the sealing-cap therein described taken on thedotted line was. Fig. 9 isa still i 5 embodies as an essential featurethereof a further enlarged sectional view of certain compressiblesealingasket which is seated parts shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is anin a hollow bead or a groove in the lateral wall enlarged sectional viewof the revoluble table of the cap, which gasket after the applicationand the mechanism whereby the same is inof the sealing-cap to the headof the bottle is termittingly rotated. Fig. 11 is a transverse 2o forcedcloselyin contact with the bottle-head section of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is anenlarged secto form a tight joint by flattening the said tional view ofthe vertical plunger shown parbead or contracting the port-ion of thelateral ticularly in Fig. 5 and certain of its attachwall in which thegasket is inclosed. ments. Fig. 13 is'a sectional plan of certain Theoperation of the machine embodying parts of Fig. 4. Fig. 14 is anexterior top 25 the present invention is divided into three esview ofcertain parts shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 7 5 sential stepsviz., stamping anddrawing 15 is a cross=section of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a from asheet-metal blank strip a cap having partially-sectional elevation ofthe rolls for an annular enlargement in its lateral wall for feeding thesheet-metal blank strip to the the reception of a joint-forming gasket,incap punching and drawing devices, which are 30 serting in the enlargedportion of the cap the also shown. Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a endof a compressible sleeve and cutting off sealing-cap with thejointforming gasket the inserted portion which is left in the captherein and before the edge of the metal is as a gasket, and turning inthe edge of the turned in to secure the gasket. Fig. 18 is a cap overthe gasket to hold it in place. similar view of the cap, showing thesame.

35 The present invention consists in the comwith its edge turned in andupon the gasket. bination of a machine or certain parts or ele- Fig. 19is a flat view of a sheet-metal blank ments of a machine, whereby asealing-cap is strip after the cap-blanks have been stamped stamped out,with mechanism forinserting an from it and which constitutes the waste.annular gasket in the cap and devices to turn 1 Referring now to thedrawings, A is the 40 in the edge of the cap upon the inclosed gasframeof the machine, resting on the bedket to hold it in place, as willhereinafter plate a, which is supported by the legs I). fully appear. Bis a revoluble table keyed to the upper In the further description ofthe said iuvenend of the central vertical shaft 0, which is tion whichfollows reference is made to the supported in abearing d, projectingfrom the 45 accompanying drawings, forming a part herebed-plate a. Thecentral boss of the bearing 5 of, and in whichdis shown on an enlargedscale in Fig.. 10.

Figurelis an exterior View ofthe improved The shaft 0 is driven from thehorizontal machine as seen from the side to which are shaft D by meansof the miter gear-wheels fed the tin plate blank strips from which theE, and the said shaft, which is supported- 50 caps are formed. Fig. 2 isaside view the reby hangers 6, (see Fig. 10,) is actuated from the maindriving-shaft F, as hereinafter described. In the table B and near toits circumference are eight holes f at a common distance apart, and ineach hole is a liftable die g, the lower and smaller portion of whichextends through the table, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10. The upper surfaceof the die 9 is concave and has the same configuration as that of thecrown of the sealing-cap to be made.

H is a head (see Fig. 5) projecting from a block I, adapted to have asliding vertical movement between two adjustable gibs J, secured to theface of the frame A. From the head H project two vertical standardsh,carrying rollers t, which are held yieldingly in contact with theoutside of cams K on the drivingshaft F by means of springs l,which arecoiled about stationary rods m, leading from the top of the frame andpassing through the eyes of a cross-head 7c, attached to the top of arod j, which projects from the block I. The center of the head H isdirectly over the path described by the holes in the table when thetable is revolved, as shown in Fig. 5.

Lisasleeve in two parts (see Fig. 5) screwed into the head H, and M aplunger arranged to slide in the sleeve. Over the lower end of thesleeve L is screwed a collar N, which is further supported from the headH by bolts 01, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. To the lower side of thecollar N is fastened by means of bolts 0 a central boss 0, carrying thepunch P, which, in connection with the die Q, situated over the table B,(see Figs. 5 and 16,) cuts from a strip of sheet metal the circularblanks from which sealing-caps are formed. A sectional view of thesealing-cap is shown in FZigs. 17 and 18, in which they are denoted by Ris the upper cylindrical die, the face of which corresponds in shapewith the concave or inner surface of the sealing-cap. It is attached tothe plunger M and slides within the central boss 0. The dieR has aspring-held plunger 19, which holds the blank until the die comes incontact with it at the beginning of the drawing or stamping'operation.The plunger M and its die R are operated from the driving-shaft Fthrough the medium of the crank S and the connecting-rod T. (See Figs. 8and 5.)

The die Q, which cuts out the circular blank, is secured to a plate U,(see Figs. 5 and 16,) which extends transversely of the machine, and inthe said plate is the intermediate die V, which cuts the blank.

The blanks are punched from a strip of tinplate, (see Fig. 19,) which isfed across the machine and between the dies before described, and itpasses through a channel q, (see Figs. 5 and 16,) the sides of whichform a lateral guide for it. To feed the tin-plate blank strip I applyto each side of the machine a pair of rolls 1', the shafts of each pairof which are connected by spur gear-wheels s.

between the holes therein.

shaft 3, to which the pawl is secured.

The lower shaft in each pair of rolls is provided with a tightratchet-wheel tand a loose arm u, carrying a pawl a, which is in gearwith the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. These arms are connected by a rod Ato effect their joint action, and one of the said arms is provided witha branch arm 1), whereby it is 0perated, as hereinafter described. Theupper roll of each pair is liftable, and it is held down by means of twospring-held levers c. From the stand of one set of feed-rolls extendsthe tin-plate blank-strip support (1, which consists of a bar with astop e at a proper distance from the center of the machine. Thespring-held levers of the first rolls or those next to the strip-supportd may be raised by cams f, upon which they rest, and theactuating-handle g. The object of this lifting movement of the roll isto allow of the tin-plate blank strip being placed in position on itssupport d, with one end resting against the step e.

The means for intermittingly rotating the table B, so as to bring theholes f, with their dies g, successively under the punch P, consist asfollows:

B is a counter-shaft, properly supported in bearing-boxes, driven fromthe driving-shaft F through the medium of the miter-gear C. At one endof the counter-shaft B is a crankdisk D, the pin h of which is connectedby a link 2" to a similar pin j on an arm '70, which is loose on theshaft D before described. The arm 7c has a cross-arm Z, carrying apivoted pawl m, which engages with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel E, whichis tight on the shaft D. From thisdescription it will be seen that ateach revolution of the counter-shaft B the shaft D has imparted to it aportion of a revolution, and the movement effected is such as willrevolve the table a distance equal to that The movement of thefeed-rolls 4' is also derived from the counter-shaft B through themedium of the crank-disk F and a link G, which unites the pin of thecrank-disk F to a similar pin on the branch arm 1).

While the devices described for actuating the table are of suchcharacter as to move it at each revolution of the driving shaft adis- Ytance equal to that between the holes f only,

it is necessary in practice to supply devices to prevent the table frompassing beyond the stopping-point by reason of its momentum. Suchmechanism preferably consists of a spring-held pawl H, adapted to enterany one of eight notches n in the circumference of the table. On theshaft D is a cross-lever I, one arm of which has a pin 0 yieldingly helddown by a coiled spring 19, and the other arm is connected by a link qto an arm 1" on the The movement which withdraws the pawl H from 1 anotch in the table is effected by the arm striking the pin 0. Thismovement takes place immediately before'the time for the operation ofthe table, and the pawl is allowed to spring back against thecircumference of the table, so as to be in position to enter the nextnotch when the next hole is directly under the die P.

A is a sleeve of rubber (see Figs. 9 and 11, which has to be cut intoshort lengths to form gaskets within the sealing-caps made by the diesbefore described. This rubber sleeve is placed on a-mandrel B which itfits tightly, and the whole is inserted in a tube 0 which is free torevolve in a bracket D supported from the bed-plate a. The upper end ofthe tube 0 is provided with a loose grooved sheave E driven by a roundbelt a which passes around the directing-sheaves b On the upper surfaceof the sheave E is a pin 0 and at the top of the tube O is a tightcollar- F having a spring-held pin d which in its normal position isclearof the pin 0 but when'the pin (1 is depressed it engages with thepin 0 and serves to drive the tube 0 when the sheave E is revolved; Themandrel B has a flange e at its upper end and a knob f wherebyit'islifted for the purpose of placing on it the rubber sleeve. has a holethrough which the-reduced upper end ofthe pind passes to depress thesaid pin into contact with the one o andv at the same time the pin ddrives the mandrel B through the medium of its flange Q The lowerportion ofthe tube 0 has four radial slots G in which are placed theendsof bentlevers H pivoted to lugsl projecting from a hollow collar J(SeeFigs. 7 and 9.) Thishollow collar is packed with some soft material,such as Wicking, to increase the friction between it and the tube. tocompress the packing. K is a flanged collar loose on the tube C andsituated a short distance above the packed collar J having lugs 712,which are united to the upper end of the levers H by links L It will beunderstood that by moving down the flanged collar K the lower ends ofthe levers H are forced inward and against the rubber sleeve A on itsmandrel B The lower end of the mandrel B is bored so as to form acavity, from which extend four radial slots M is a bolt screwed into themandrel B? from the bottom, whose head 3' forms a cap to cover thecentral cavity and the radial slots 4 (See'Fig. 9.)

N is a sliding block consisting of a cylindrical body with radial wingswhich fit the cavity and the radial slots inthe lower end of themandrel, and it is bored so as to slide on thebolt' M Thecircumferential face of the wings of the sliding block extends to thecircumference of the mandrel, so as to come in contact with the innersurface of the rubber sleeve A The length of the sliding block N isconsiderably less than that of the slots '5 as shown in Fig. 9.Oonsequentlythesaid block may be moved longitudinally-of :sleeve.

A gland g is used the mandrel. A spring 0 coiled about the ing block inits highest position, as shown in Fig. 9. 7

From the foregoing description it will be seen that should the flangedcollar K be moved downward the lower ends of the levers H are firstforced inward so as to clamp the rubber sleeve A against the face of theradial wings of the sliding block N and in a further or continuedmovement of the said collar the clamped rubber sleeve A is carried alongor longitudinally of the mandrel and of the tube G which is inrevolution so as to reduce the friction between it and the said rubbersleeve. In the return movement the sliding block N springs back to itsoriginal elevated positionindependently of the In the operation of themachine the rubber sleeve at each revolution-of the mafchine is'pushedthrough the tube (3 and into a cap a distance equal to the length of agasket, and when such operation is performed the portion of the rubbersleeve-that is to say, the gasket-is cut off. The meansfor cutting offthe gasket consists of a revoluble circular knife A on a hollow mandrelaflwhich is revolved about a stem b projecting upward from. a carriage BThis carriage slides within a bracket (Di-secured to the bedplate a.(See Figs. 2, 3,-13,-14=,'and 15.) It is of course necessary that thecircular knife should at each revolution of .themachinebe moved intocontact with the rubber sleeve, and for this purpose the carriage B ispivoted to the end of the lever c on a shaft d sup ported in bearings eprojecting from the side of the frame A, as shown in Fig; 2.' The shaft01 is provided with another arm f which is vibrated from a ca'm'D on thecounter-shaft B through the-medium of thecam-lever E and the link F Thehollow mandrel-a, of

the circular knife has a grooved pulley C driven by abelt G which runsover the'directing-pulleys h (See Figs. 2, 3,-and 4.)

It willbe understood that the cam D moves.

placedin cavities in the carriage with their outer 'endsbearing againstthe plate j secured to the bracket C (See Figs. 14 and 15.) A is avertical plunger arranged to slide in a socket a, secured to the bed ofthe machine 1 and directly over the li ftable die next-to the one underthe tube 0 carrying the "rubber sleeve. The lower end of this plungeris. adapted to be'pressed onto-the sealing-cap after it has beenprovidedwith a gasket to turn in its edge over the gasket. To-fit itforthis purpose, the-portion" of its surface di- &

rectly over the vertical edge of the sealingcap is made beveled (seeFig. 12) and the plunger has an inner spring-held plunger 13, havingindependent spring-held stems b These stems first come in contact withthe sealingcap and serve to hold it in place on the liftable die untilthe plunger 13 descends to the bottom of the cap, Where it remains untilthe plunger A comes in contact with the edge of the cap and turns itover the rubber gasket. The spring-held stems If also serve to hold thecap down while the inner plunger B is withdrawn; otherwise the cap wouldrise with the plunger. The plunger A is operated from the head H bymeans of a lever D pivoted to the plunger and fulcrumed at (Z to astandard e secured to the bed. At the close of this edge-turningoperation the sealing-cap is a completed device ready to be dischargedfrom the liftable die, upon which it is still seated, and to make thispossible the said die has to be raised, so that its upper edge will beflush with the top of the table. To eifect this lifting of the die,there is fastened to the bed an inclined track C", along which the lowerend of the liftable die traverses. This is shown in Fig. 3.

E is a deflector to push the finished sealing-cap from its die to achute F leading to any receptacle.

The means for efiecting the up-and-down movement of the flanged collar Ktogether with the levers H and the links L consist of a ring I, placedloosely around the collar and above its flange or between the flange andthe nutj, connected at one side to the plunger A bymeans of a plate Jand in order that the motion of the flanged collar may be regulated toproduce a proper feed of the rubber sleeve the upper end of the plate Jis slotted, and the connection between the said plate and the plunger Ais formed by a screw I which passes through the said slot. (See Fig. 8,which shows a top View of the upper end of the plate J and itsattachments.)

A is the driving-pulley and balance-wheel, loose on the driving-shaft F,and an ordinary clutch mechanism is employed between the driving-pulleyand the said shaft to start and stop the machine through the medium of atreadle B Supposing the machine to be in operation, with a rubber sleevein position on the mandrel, forming a part of the sleeve-feedingmechanism, and a tin-plate blank strip in place on the supporting-bar,at each movement of the table a circular blank is punched out and formedinto an unfinished sealingcap. As the unfinished caps pass around theyare each in succession provided with a gasket and subsequently havetheir edges turned in to secure the gasket in place. These essentialsteps or operations are taking place simultaneously, so that at eachrevolution of the driving-shaft a completed sealing-cap is thrown out.

I do not confine myself to the employment of the mechanism herein shownand described for forming the unfinished caps or that for turning in theedge of the cap upon the rubber gasket, as other devices could beemployed to effect a like result.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for producing sealing-caps forbottles, mechanism for forming from a sheet-metal blank an unfinishedcap, combined with devices tofeed into the said unfinished cap, the endof a flexible sleeve, and to out Oh? the introduced portion so as toleave in the said cap a joint-forming gasket. and other mechanism toturn in the edge of the cap upon the inclosed gasket, substantially asspecified.

2. In a machine for producing sealing-caps for bottles, mechanism toform from a sheetmetal blank an unfinished cap, devices to feed aflexible sleeve along a mandrel and into the said cap, and to cut offthe introduced portion so as to provide the cap with a joint-forminggasket, and mechanism to turn in the edge of the cap upon the inclosedgasket, substantially as specified.

3. As means to feed into a sealing-cap, the lower end of a flexiblesleeve, a mandrel upon which the said sleeve is placed, and devicessubstantially as described, to clamp the said sleeve and feed itdownindependently of the inclosed mandrel, substantially as specified.

4. As means to feed the lower end of a flexible sleeve into asealing-cap and out 01f the introduced portion to form in the cap ajointforming gasket, the combination of a revoluble mandrel upon whichthe sleeve is placed, a vertically-sliding block at the lower end of themandrel, portions of which block extend to the circumference of themandrel, downwardly-moving levers arranged to clamp the flexible sleeveagainst the exposed portions of the sliding block, mechanism to pushdown the clamping-levers and through them and the sliding block, theclamped sleeve into the cap, and knife mechanism to cut ofi the insertedportion of the said sleeve, substantially as specified.

5. In a machine for producing sealing-caps for bottles, mechanism forforming from a sheet-metal blank a cup-shaped device, combined withmechanism to feed into the said cup shaped device, the end of a flexiblesleeve, and mechanism to cut off the introduced portion of the saidsleeve and thereby provide the said cup-shaped device with ajoint-forming gasket, substantially as specifled.

ALBERT JONES.

Witnesses:

WM. '1. HOWARD, DANL. FISHER.

